Shopping in person is great – but shopping online means you get more options. And now, with the need to stay inside having never been higher, it makes sense that more people are switching to online shopping. CBD is still new, though, and many consumers struggle to find where to buy CBD online that they can trust. During our guide today, we want to walk you through exactly how to find high quality CBD oil, what the laws on CBD are like for each state, and everything you could want to know in between.

how can you determine the quality of cbd oil?

With the CBD industry taking off with as much popularity as it has, it’s not surprising that there’s a tremendous range when it comes to the quality of CBD oil products available. Some brands simply don’t go above and beyond to improve the quality of their product. Others take every step and measure possible to ensure their customers know the effort they put in to create the quality in their final product.

The easiest thing to do when trying to narrow in on CBD oil is ask these questions to yourself when considering a CBD brand. Being able to answer the questions with resounding confirmation will help you decide which quality of CBD oil is best for you.

WHAT IS THE CBD CONTENT?

This might seem like the easiest question, since you’re looking for CBD oil – but you still might want to double check. Unfortunately, many shady hemp brands across the web will try to trick consumers into thinking they’re consuming a certain amount of CBD, when in fact they’re consuming a hemp extract that may not even contain CBD at all. 

Especially on platforms like Amazon, where they strictly prohibit any CBD-rich products, there are still brands that get past the keyword bans to sell hemp supplements that contain outrageous amounts of hemp extract. 

Even at 50,000 whopping milligrams, though, it still only comes from hemp seed oil, which contains no cannabinoids, terpenes, or other vital hemp compounds besides being rich in certain vitamins and nutrients.

Hemp seed oil has its benefits, but they’re not the benefits most people think they’re going to receive. Only shop directly on a CBD brand’s platform and double-check how much CBD they specifically state is in each serving.

WHO IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE?

Before you ever shop with a CBD brand, check what their customer service is like. Is there any accountability; any easy way to reach out to them with a concern or question? A company with low-quality, low-effort products will put in the same effort with the quality of their customer support.

what extraction method was used?

How was the CBD oil extracted from industrial hemp? A CBD brand should be transparent about every step of their process, especially because the extraction process is such an integral part. The easiest, cheapest ways to extract CBD from hemp involve harsh solvents that can not only deteriorate the quality of the hemp extract compared to cleaner methods, but it also leave chemical residue in the final product.

The most popular, though pricier, and most reliable extraction method is a supercritical CO2 extraction, which uses carbon dioxide under incredibly low temperatures and extremely high pressure to pull CBD and the other vital hemp compounds without having to introduce any additive.

BENEFITS OF A SUPERIOR, SUPERCRITICAL CO2 EXTRACTION PROCESS:

• Free of harsh chemicals and solvents
• Ensures a much higher quality
• Already a widely used extraction method for dietary supplements and foods
• Free of ethanol, propane, and butane

WHERE WAS THE HEMP SOURCED FROM?

Was the industrial hemp used in a brand’s CBD oil grown in the USA? To reduce risk of the bioaccumulation of pesticides and other pollutants, the solution is to cultivate the hemp in rich, fertile soil free of any contaminants. Even the water absorbed into the hemp and the particles in the air around it can change the content or characteristic profile of the strain.

Because of how easy hemp can bioaccumulate, it’s vital that the hemp in your CBD products is cultivated in the USA using strict farming practices. Even beyond hemp, the world is starting to prioritize organic crops, understanding the risk now behind protecting crops against weeds using herbicides and fungi, disease, and insects using pesticides. 

WHAT DO THEIR CERTIFICATES OF ANALYSES (COA) SHOW?

Don’t settle for a brand that just says their products are free of THC or contaminants and doesn’t have thorough testing to back it up. Not only should all CBD products be batch-tested through an independent, third-party lab for unbiased results, but it’s just as important that that lab is accredited and performing all the appropriate testing necessary to ensure absolute safety and quality.

ISO/IEC 18025:2017 Accredited Laboratories should test to ensure the CBD oil is free of:

• Heavy metals

• Bacteria and Fungus

• Residual Solvents

• Pesticides

• Herbicides

• Any Foreign Matter

how to legally purchase cbd oil

Depending on your state, there may be some different rules in place for how to purchase your CBD legally. Knowing this, we find it easier to look at all 50 state’s laws on CBD and go from there on how you would purchase legally within your state.

In Which States is it Legal to Buy CBD Oil?

CBD is legal federally, but every state is different. When it became legal federally, it enabled states to decide for themselves whether they wanted to incorporate a hemp plan into their agricultural sector or not. We broke down all 50 states and where they currently stand on CBD, hemp-derived products, and cannabis.

As a summary, though, most of the nation either has accepted CBD as fully legal, or there are some restrictions. There are only two states with CBD strictly illegal: Idaho and South Dakota.

1. Alabama | Attorney General Bentley marked through a Public Notice that CBD could legally be possessed, sold, and produced within the state. 
2. Alaska | There are specific industrial hemp rules for the retailers in Alaska to follow in order to sell and manufacture hemp and hemp-derived products like CBD.
3. Arizona | CBD is completely legal in Arizona.
4. Arkansas | There’s no permit or license required to sell or deliver CBD products within Arkansas. The hemp compound was also specifically removed from the state’s list of controlled substances. 
5. 5. California | While many CBD products are allowed within the state and it is recreationally legal for marijuana in California, CBD is illegal in all beverages, foods, and even some other types of products. 
6. 6. Colorado | Possibly the most recreational state in the USA, CBD is 100% legal in Colorado. 
7. Connecticut | CBD is completely legal to purchase and consume in Connecticut. 
8. Delaware | Ahead of the curve, CBD products have actually been legal in Delaware since 2014.
9. Florida. |CBD is technically legal but heavily under-regulated within Florida state lines. Fortunately, a team is working on rule-making for its commercial hemp regulations. 
10. Georgia | CBD products that contain no more than 5% THC are legal within Georgia, making valuable products for medical patients across the state. 
11. Hawaii | Medical only, CBD products can’t be distributed, processed, or sold within Hawaii without a prescription from a doctor.
12. Idaho | Any amount of THC is illegal within Idaho, so a CBD product is illegal unless it contains 0% THC.
13. Illinois | CBD has been legal for medical use for years. In January of 2020, though CBD will be completely legal for everyone in Illinois. 
14. Indiana | There is a specific law in Indiana that allows the sell and possession of CBD products.
15. Iowa | CBD products can only be sold with a dispensary license in Iowa, though medical marijuana dispensaries did open their doors in December of 2018.
16. Kansas | CBD products that contain 0% THC are legal, though there are some medical exceptions. There is also a newer industrial hemp law that now allows for any CBD product that contains 0.3% THC or less to be legal, too, which adds to the confusion in the state. 
17. Kentucky | It is legal to grow, manufacture, and sell your own CBD products within Kentucky. 
18. Louisiana | If the CBD product contains even trace amounts of THC, it’s considered illegal within Louisiana state lines. 
19. Maine | In Maine, CBD is treated more as a food than as a medicine. That means CBD products are legal as long as there aren’t any medical claims to go along with it that could promote the product in this manner. 
20. Maryland | Though hazily legal, there are topical CBD products available for sale in local drug stores within Maryland, so it is at least partially above-board.
21. Massachusetts | While legislation has already been filed to reverse the strict policy, Massachusetts in the meantime has CBD restricted if it’s infused into food, medicinal claims are made for the CBD product, hemp’s been mixed with animal feed, or raw or unprocessed plant material if it’s sold to consumers. 
22. Michigan | While the state is recreational, there is no need for a medical marijuana card to utilize CBD in Michigan.
23. Minnesota | At the end of 2018, the very first hemp and CBD store opened within state lines for Minnesota.
24. Mississippi | CBD use as a medical treatment is strictly restricted within Mississippi. CBD oil can only be dispensed by the Department of Pharmacy Services at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. It must also be tested by the National Center for Natural Products Research. 
25. Missouri | There are presently two state-licensed facilities that a citizen may go to once they’ve purchased a hemp extract registration card for CBD oil. However, only patients with epilepsy are eligible.
26. Montana | There are no laws expressly permitting, prohibiting, or otherwise regulating CBD within Montana, which technically means the federal law defaults to make CBD legal within state lines. 
27. Nebraska | Nebraska’s own farming act has exempted hemp and hemp-derived products from the state’s controlled substances act, allowing it to act as an agricultural commodity.
28. Nevada | CBD is not yet legal within Nevada as a food product, though it is available for sale in any other form. 
29. New Hampshire | Unless it’s been added into food, CBD is legal within New Hampshire. In fact, CBD-infused edibles are considered illegal until the FDA concludes their safety analysis on CBD.
30. New Jersey | The state is likely to have their hemp program go into effect soon. The only thing pending now are USDA’s final rules and the overall plan approval. 
31. New Mexico | Unlike many other states, New Mexico has a specific law enabling the sale of CBD and food products that contained CBD in May 2019. 
32. New York | The use of CBD in drinks and food is banned within New York, though there is presently a law pending to regulate hemp extractions and hemp production. 
33. North Carolina | Hemp is illegal to cultivate or product within North Carolina, and only patients with epilepsy are allowed to possess and use CBD within state lines.
34. North Dakota | Until just recently, North Dakota had a strict enforcement against CBD. In fact, the state’s constitution still states that hemp is a controlled substance. However, if it meets federal standards by containing 0.3% THC or less, it is not technically illegal to possess.
35. Ohio | CBD is technically legal in Ohio, but only in regulated dispensaries at this time. However, the governor may sign a bill that’s waiting to allow CBD to be sold outside medical marijuana dispensaries as well.
36. Oklahoma | The state was the first to require that CBD products label the state or country of origin as well as whether the CBD was synthetic or natural. They also approved the retail sale of CBD, so CBD products are legal within Oklahoma. 
37. Oregon | Even though the state is recreationally legal for marijuana, CBD products are still required to be tested and certified by an Oregon lab before they’re allowed through state lines.
38. Pennsylvania | CBD derived from hemp is legal, though anything extracted from marijuana has to go through the state’s medical marijuana system before it can be considered legal.
39. Rhode Island | There are both THC and CBD products available medically in Rhode Island. 
40. South Carolina | While technically legal, South Carolina has made CBD only legal for certain severe seizure disorders.
41. South Dakota | Hemp is considered illegal, as well as any other CBD or cannabis product.
42. Tennessee | CBD oil and other CBD products that contain 0.9% THC or less are legal for sale within Tennessee.
43. Texas | CBD products that contain at least 10% CBD and no more than 0.5% THC are legal in the state of Texas. 
44. Utah | While legal, a hemp extract registration card is required in order to utilize CBD.
45. Vermont | CBD is completely legal to purchase and sell within Vermont.
46. Virginia | Unless added into foods, CBD is legal in Virginia. 
47. Washington | As Washington is recreationally legal for marijuana, it is unsurprising that CBD is 100% legal to purchase in any license dispensary or cannabis store.
48. West Virginia | The state’s hemp licensing program was modified so that the state could ensure they utilize the sale of CBD within their state lines.
49. Wisconsin | A doctor or physician must certify for a Wisconsin citizen to possess CBD oil for one of a certain number of medical conditions. It is medically legal, to a degree.
50. Wyoming | CBD is presently allowed in Wyoming, as well as other hemp and hemp-derived products.

Nebraska's Recent Changes

Nebraska used to be lumped in with Idaho and South Dakota until just recently. As of LB 1001, industrial hemp has been reclassified as an agricultural product. State-sponsored research into the plant’s cultivation is underway.

what is the highest grade of cbd oil on the market?

CBD oil can be broken down into different types, as well as different strengths. Overall, this combo helps determine how high a grade CBD oil might have. There are 5,000, 6,000, and even 10,000 mg strength CBD oils advertised across the market. 

There are also isolates, broad-spectrum, full-spectrum, and whole plant extracts, each containing more cannabinoids than the last. We don’t know of an exact number for the highest grade of CBD oil in the market, but we know our highest grade is 1,500mg. 

WHAT IS YOUR STRONGEST CBD OIL FOR SALE?

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES IN CBD OIL STRENGTHS?

The difference between strengths for CBD oil is the potency level between them. Something that contains 250mg CBD per bottle is at a lower strength than the same sized bottle that contains 1,500mg CBD instead. Typically, the lower the milligram level of CBD in a tincture, the clearer the oil in both visual tone as well as in taste. In the same sense, the higher a strength CBD oil is, the more potent and strongly it will taste of the hemp plant it came from. 

WHICH CBD OIL STRENGTH IS BEST FOR YOU?

This question isn’t so easy to answer. In short, everyone is different – there’s no set rule for which CBD oil strength is going to be best for which individual. However there are some things you can do yourself to narrow in on which CBD oil strength is best for you.

Determine Your Goals

First, if you’re not experiencing anything chronic, you’ll want to clarify your goals. There are more than 65 different targets throughout the body, so your ability to focus on one of two of the properties CBD might be able to provide could make it easier to not only find the right serving size, but also the ideal product.

What do you want CBD to improve? Ask yourself this question to help better understand why you’re trying to incorporate CBD into your daily routine. Do you have arthritic or joint pain? Are you looking for emotional stability and balanced wellbeing? Does the idea of CBD just make you curious to see how it could improve your life?

Believe us, we’ve been there.

Finding the answers to why you want to take CBD in the first place will help you better grasp what kind of company you should be shopping with. Plus, tracking your progress may help you discover if the CBD product is effective for your needs – and that start with discovering why you really want to take CBD to begin with.

What Does CBD Need To Target?

Next, now that you have some goals in mind, figure out the best place CBD needs to go to achieve those goals. 

Joint pain or inflammation? You could get a topical for those target areas. 

Anxiety or stress got you down? Something that delivers CBD quickly like a vape might be better suited for your needs. 

Taking CBD just for general wellness and overall health? There are CBD capsules and edibles that you can take once at the beginning or end of your day and just move on.

There’s a plethora of ways to take CBD, so finding the one that fits your needs best means you’re almost to discovering your preferred CBD dosage.

What Is Your Timeframe?

How quickly do you want to feel relief? Edibles, capsules, and other consumable products take longer for the body to absorb, while vaping provides shorter-term relief. For many people, a combination of methods may be the most ideal way to get their true ideal serving size, no matter what time of day. This is a big reason we recommend CBD oil, as it can provide quick and slow release relief.